Military Avenue adds businesses, Manhattan Lanes becomes home to new businesses | Streetwise

Green Bay Press-Gazette business reporter Jeff Bollier, aka Streetwise, wants to hear from you with news on new businesses, openings, closings, expansions and improvements. You can contact him at jbollier@gannett.com. March 14, 2018.
Jeff Bollier/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

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The Military Avenue Business Improvement District secured funds to erect a new sign where Military Avenue meets Lombardi Avenue.(Photo: Jeff Bollier/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Buy Photo

A new sign isn't the only thing coming to the Military Avenue Business Improvement District.

You might have noticed the new Military Avenue sign at the corner of Military and Lombardi avenues, but did you also notice the two salons, shake shop, tea house and bakery in the works?

"This is a good time for businesses to start up. We're headed into the busy season," Military Avenue BID Director Leah Weycker said. "We lost a couple of stores, but we've gained a few more."

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Q-Tea Premium Tea House and The Sense Spa & Wellness Center plan to open in the 100 block of South Military Avenue.(Photo: Jeff Bollier/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Here's what Weycker said is happening in the business district, starting with stores already open and finishing with one store closure:

Vitality Nutrition, 425 S. Military Ave. Suite 204, opened Sept. 10 in an office building near Pancake Place and Fox Communities Credit Union. It is the newest of three Green Bay smoothie shops that sell Herbalife health shakes, which taste like sweet treats, and energy teas. Vitality is open from 7-10 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Q-Tea Premium Tea House and The Sense Spa & Wellness Center, 124 S. Military Ave., is converting the old Tuffy Automotive building (in front of Shopko) into a tea house and wellness spa. This will be a new home for Q-Tea, which is now at 2321 S. Oneida St., in Ashwaubenon. The Sense appears to be a brand new business.

Nail-n-Spa, 426 S. Military Ave., at this point there's just a hand-written sign in the window of the former Reese Beauty storefront. But it's one of two salons Weycker said is in the works. The other, she said, will open in St. Agnes Square, a strip center in the 1200 block of South Military Avenue.

Weycker said a bread-focused bakery also is in development stages in the 800 block of South Military Avenue, across from the old Sears store, but she had few other details.

Manhattan Lanes bowls over new tenants

A group of investors led by Caleb Hayes, of Caleb Hayes Real Estate Group, bought the former Manhattan Lanes, 1109 Honey Court, in De Pere, this spring and invested $1.2 million in a renovation.

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The former Manhattan Lanes building on Honey Court, in De Pere, has been converted into a strip center.(Photo: Jeff Bollier/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

The 15,000-square-foot building isn’t quite complete, but it already has three tenants: OneWay Christian Church, a chiropractor’s office and Packerland CrossFit. Hayes said two restaurants are interested in leasing some or all of the 5,000 square feet still available for lease.

“We believe we will have it 100 percent sold in the next 30 days,” Hayes said. “I’m pretty excited about this project. The building has been super run-down since the 1970s. It’s going to be a beautiful property once it’s finished.”

Packerland CrossFit co-owner Derek LaBonte said the CrossFit gym started in a garage and moved into the Manhattan Lanes building in July.

“We’ve already had a ton of interest and a lot of people stopping by,” he said. “Once it gets all finished, it’ll start booming and we really can’t wait for that.”

In other news ...

Congratulations are in order to Green Bay and Downtown Green Bay Inc. for the work both organizations have put into CityDeck. Or should we say, the award-winning CityDeck? The project and its myriad uses won a Great Places Award from the Wisconsin chapter of the American Planning Association. The award recognizes public spaces that make communities stronger.

No one is happy to think about winter's return soon, but members of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 400 are ready to help low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners through Project Heat's On. For the 26th year, those in Brown, Outagamie, Winnebago and Fond du Lac counties who need a heating system inspection can get one for free on Sept. 22. Contractors can donate time, materials or money to support the effort. Contact Douglas Dokey with the Local 400 at doug@ua400.org for more information.